Powder delivery system and method

ABSTRACT

A powder delivery system for a laser-based additive manufacturing process includes a hopper adapted to contain a powder and continuously feed the powder through an output of the hopper, a rotatable disk having a top surface that is substantially flat, the top surface adapted to receive the powder continuously fed through the output of the hopper, the top surface being disposed below the output of the hopper by a prescribed gap, and a vacuum powder removal device operable to remove the powder from the top surface via a vacuum.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Ser. No. 60/414,639, entitled“POWDER DELIVERY SYSTEM,” filed provisionally on Oct. 1, 2002.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a powder delivery system that maybe used in a laser-based additive manufacturing process and, moreparticularly, to a powder delivery system that includes a meteringdevice that receives powder that is continuously fed or dosed from ahopper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a laser-based additive manufacturing (“LBAM”) method, a laser beamforms a functional component through a process of material addition.More specifically, a laser beam melts a relatively small, localizedportion of a surface of a sacrificial substrate component and/or aportion of the functional component itself. Depending on the material, arelatively small, localized molten pool of metal, ceramic, and/orcarbide is formed. A solid powder including metal, ceramic, and/orcarbide is delivered by a powder delivery system and deposited over aportion of the surface of the component, including the molten pool. Whenthe powder contacts the molten pool of material, the powder is alsomelted. Removal of the laser beam from the component allows both themolten pool and the melted powder to cool, thereby adhering or fusingthe powder to the component. By this method, a layer of material iseffectively added to the component. Thus, a complete functionalcomponent may be obtained through the application of multiple layers ofmaterial.

Precise control of a feeding rate of the powder delivered to the moltenpool in the LBAM method often results in a component part havingchemical and/or mechanical properties closer to the desired propertiesthan does imprecise control. Precise control includes the ability todeliver the powder at a relatively small feeding rate and/or at arelatively continuous feeding rate, and/or to change a desired feedingrate over a relatively short time interval.

It is known to use a commercially available powder delivery system thatis optimized for another manufacturing process; such as a thermalspraying process, in the LBAM method. However, the thermal sprayingprocess powder delivery system is optimized for the delivery of powderat a relatively higher feeding rate (e.g., 100 to 1000 times) than thatused in the LBAM method. As a consequence, the feeding rate from such aknown powder delivery system generally varies by an amount that isgreater than a maximum required feeding rate in the LBAM method. Thus,such a known powder delivery system suffers from the disadvantage thatthe powder cannot be precisely delivered in the LBAM method.

It is also known to use a powder delivery system including a meteringdevice to which powder is discretely (i.e., non-continuously) fed ordosed from a hopper. In such a system, the powder is delivered from anoutput of a hopper into one or more discrete pockets formed in a topsurface of the metering device, the portion of the top surface that doesnot include the discrete pockets being in contact with the hopperoutput. However, such a known powder delivery system also suffers fromthe disadvantage that the powder cannot be precisely delivered becausethe powder is discretely fed or dosed to the metering device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A powder delivery system for a laser-based additive manufacturingprocess includes a hopper adapted to contain a powder and continuouslyfeed the powder through an output of the hopper, a rotatable disk havinga top surface that is substantially flat, the top surface adapted toreceive the powder continuously fed through the output of the hopper,the top surface being disposed below the output of the hopper by aprescribed gap, and a vacuum powder removal device operable to removethe powder from the top surface via a vacuum.

Embodiments of the invention provide a number of technical advantages.Embodiments of the invention may include all, some, or none of theseadvantages. According to one embodiment of the invention, a system formanufacturing or repairing parts produces better accuracy than a purelyadditive solid freeform fabrication (“SFF”) process due to theintroduction of intermediate material removal procedures. In addition,the materials and deposition methods utilized are not constrained by theresolution of the deposition, since the accuracy of the parts iscontrolled by the shaping processes. Another technical advanatage isthat no custom fixturing is required. Fixtures are inherent in theadditive/subtractive manufacturing method; support structures and allpreviously built layers automatically serve as fixtures for thesubsequent layers. Employing an additive/subtractive manufacturingmethod also opens up the engineering design space. Parts may be embeddedwith prefabricated components, such as electronic devices or sensors. Inaddition, it is capable of constructing internal intricate features aswell as integrated assembly mechanisms.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the operationalwelding parameters of welding-based deposition processes are controlledto facilitate homogeneous mechancial properties across the volume of athree-dimensional part. In addition, the microstructural of a part maybe controlled to tailor the properties of the part to an optimizedsolution.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a closed-loop controlsystem based on infrared image sensing for controlling the size of themolten pool in a laser-based additive manufacturing (“LBAM”) processimproves the geometrical accuracy of parts and simultaneously providesthe desired microstructure.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a powder deliverysystem permits precise control of a metering device that is continuouslyfed or dosed from a hopper with an amount of a powder that is deliveredto a molten pool formed on a functional component and/or sacrificialsubstrate component in a LBAM process or apparatus. Such a powderdelivery system may be used to produce a functional part, including afunctionally gradient part (“FGP”), having desired chemical and/ormechanical properties.

Other technical advantages are readily apparent to one skilled in theart from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the invention, and for furtherfeatures and advantages, reference is now made to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

For a more complete understanding of the invention, and for furtherfeatures and advantages, reference is now made to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are elevation and plan views, respectively, of a systemfor manufacturing or repairing parts according to one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a laser based additive manufacturing(“LBAM”) system that includes a powder delivery system according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows an elevation view of a portion of the powder deliverysystem of FIG. 2 according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of powder feeding rates as afunction of rates of rotation of a metering device according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a flow determining device including anoptical electronic system according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional elevation view of a powder nozzle accordingto one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a computer for use in the system of FIGS.1A and 1B according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8A is a flowchart illustrating an example method of controlling thesize of the molten pool in laser-based additive manufacturing accordingto an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8B illustrates an example graph and FIGS. 8C–8G illustrate exampleimages from the graph of FIG. 8B showing successful control of a moltenpool in laser-based additive manufacturing according to an embodiment ofthe invention; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of controlling theoperational weld parameters in welding-based deposition processesaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Example embodiments of the present invention and their advantages arebest understood by referring now to FIGS. 1A through 9 of the drawings,in which like numerals refer to like parts.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are elevation and plan views, respectively, of a system100 for manufacturing or repairing parts according to one embodiment ofthe invention. As described below, this multi-fabrication systemprovides the capability to make complex parts having internal andexternal geometric features with high dimensional accuracy and superiorsurface quality. For example, the same setup for one computer controlledsystem platform, system 100 may perform the following operations: fouradditive operations and/or their combination, a plurality of subtractiveoperations, in-process and post-process inspection, and scanning forreverse engineering. The combination of additive and subtractiveprocesses exhibits some technical advantages, such as the production ofmore accurate complex parts, as well as materials and depositionprocesses that are not constrained by the resolution of the depositionsince the accuracy of the parts may be controlled by the shapingprocess. In addition, no custom fixturing is required; fixtures areinherent in additive/subtractive rapid manufacturing processes becausesupport structures in all previously built layers automatically serve asfixtures for subsequent layers. Although system 100 may be suitable formany applications, system 100 may be particularly suitable for a “partshospital.” Such a parts hospital may contribute to the strengthening ofAmerica's military readiness. Accordingly, the components of system 100may be contained within an enclosure 101 for ease of mobility, or thecomponents of system 100 may be free-standing on a shop floor or othersuitable location.

The illustrated embodiment, system 100 includes a computer 700 operableto control the fabrication or repair of a three-dimensional part 102using digital data, such as any suitable solid computer aided design(“CAD”) model 103. Solid CAD model 103 may be generated using anysuitable CAD application, such as Catia, Pro Engineer, Solid Designer,SolidEdge, and Unigraphics, among others. To control the fabrication ofpart 102, computer 700 is coupled to a deposition station 104 and amachining station 106. Computer 700 may also be coupled to an inspectionstation, denoted in FIGS. 1A and 1B by an inspection device 108.

Deposition station 104 is operable to deposit successive two-dimensionallayers of material to fabricate part 102. Accordingly, depositionstation 104 includes a substrate 110 upon which part 102 is fabricated,a two rotary axis shifting platform 112 to support substrate 110, aplurality of deposition systems, and a multi-axis robot 114 that isoperable to, when directed by computer 700, utilize one of thedeposition systems to deposit any of the two-dimensional layers ofmaterial when fabricating part 102. Multi-axis robot 114 may be anysuitable industrial robot having any suitable number of multiple axes.For example, in a particular embodiment of the invention, multi-axisrobot 114 is a six-axis robot.

The deposition systems may include a welding-based deposition system, alaser-based deposition system, and a plasma powder cladding system. Anyone of these deposition systems or combination of deposition systems maybe utilized in depositing any of the two-dimensional layers of material.An advantage of having multiple deposition systems is that theadvantages of each individual deposition system may be maximized tofacilitate the fabrication of a complex part having high dimensionalaccuracy and superior surface quality in the least amount of time. Forexample, a welding-based deposition system is characterized by a metaldeposition rate one order of magnitude faster than a laser-baseddeposition system, while a laser-based deposition system ischaracterized by the ability to build finer geometrical features with asmaller heat affected zone, less porosity, multiple materialcomposition, better control the material properties, and the possibilityto deposit metal powder in any direction. Each of these depositionprocesses is described in more detail below.

Substrate 110 may be any suitable substrate upon which part 102 isfabricated. In other embodiments of the invention, substrate 110 is notutilized and part 102 is directly fabricated upon two rotary shiftingplatform 112. Two rotary shifting platform 112, in one embodiment, notonly is able to translate in the x, y, and z directions but is also ableto rotate around vertical and horizontal axes. As described in moredetail below, two rotary shifting platform 112 works in conjunction witha multiple axis worktable 120 of machining station 106 when materialremoval is required during the fabrication of part 102.

A welding based deposition system utilized in system 100 may be anysuitable welding based deposition system, such as a gas metal arcwelding (“GMAW”) system, a gas tungsten arc welding (“GTAW”) system, orother suitable welding based deposition system having consumable ornon-consumable electrodes. Welding based deposition system includes oneor more wire feeders 116, a welding power source 118, and one or morewelding torches 119. Depending upon the welding process utilized, one ormore inert gasses 121 may also be utilized. For a welding baseddeposition system to be utilized in system 100, computer 700 directsmulti-axis robot 114 to obtain a particular welding torch 119 fromautomatic changer 122 and to choose a particular wire feeder 116 toutilize. Welding torch 122 would then be placed in proximity tosubstrate 110 in order to deposit a two-dimensional layer of materialfor part 102. Computer 700 may utilize any suitable computer aidedmanufacturing (“CAM”) software or other suitable software for thecontrol of robot 114.

A laser based deposition system utilized for system 100 may be anysuitable laser based system, such as a Nd:YAG laser deposition system124, a diode laser deposition system 126, or other suitable laser basedadditive manufacturing system. A laser based deposition system includesone or more powder feeders 128, and one or more laser heads 130. A laserchiller 132 may also be utilized depending upon the laser baseddeposition system utilized. When laser based deposition system isutilized to deposit a two-dimensional layer for part 102, as directed bycomputer 700, multi-axis robot 114 obtains a particular laser head 130from automatic changer 122 and one or more powder feeders 128 is coupledto the particular laser head 130 so that the two-dimensional layer ofmaterial may be deposited. A particular laser based deposition system isdescribed below in conjunction with FIGS. 2 through 6.

A plasma powder cladding system utilized in system 100 may be anysuitable plasma powder cladding system having a plasma transferable arcpower source 136. When solid CAD model 103 directs that a particulartwo-dimensional layered material needs to be deposited by plasma powdercladding, computer 700 directs multi-axis robot 114 to obtain a plasmatorch 138 from automatic changer 122, and suitably couple one or morepowder feeders 128 to plasma torch 138 in order for the two-dimensionallayer to be deposited.

Depending upon the solid CAD model 103 for part 102, various geometricalfeatures may need to be formed in part 102 by a material removalprocesses. Therefore, machining station 106 needs to be utilized.

Machining station 106 may be any suitable machining station that isoperable to perform any suitable removal processes. In the illustratedembodiment, machining station 106 includes a multi-axis CNC millingmachine 140. Any suitable number of axes may be associated withmulti-axis CNC milling machine 140, such as a 3 axis, 4 axis, 5 axis, orother suitable axes. Multi-axis milling machine 140 may be operable toperform any suitable material removal operations, such as milling,drilling, boring, reaming, tapping, grinding, polishing, verticalturning, or other suitable material removal process.

In order to facilitate a particular removal process, an automatic toolchanger 142 is associated with CNC milling machine 140. Automatic toolchanger 142 houses all the appropriate tools for a particular materialremoval operation. Automatic tool changer 142 may be directly coupled toCNC milling machine 140 or may be separate from CNC milling machine 140.If a particular material removal operation needs to be performed on part102, computer 700 directs CNC milling machine 140 to obtain the desiredtool from automatic tool changer 142 in order that the process may becarried out. As discussed in more detail below, two-rotary shiftingplatform 112 translates underneath a machining head 141 of CNC millingmachine 140 in order that the process be carried out. The two-rotaryshifting platform 112 may be coupled to or associated with work table120 of CNC milling machine 140 in any suitable manner.

In addition to performing intermittent material removal processes onpart 102, inspection of part 102 either during the fabrication or afterthe fabrication of part 102 may be performed by system 100. Asillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an inspection device 108 may be utilizedfor this intermediate or post-processing inspection. Inspection device108 may be coupled to CNC milling machine 140 or may be locatedseparately from CNC milling machine 140. Any suitable inspection deviceor devices may be utilized for inspecting part 102. These inspectiondevices are well known in the art of material fabrication. Inspectiondevice 108 may also be controlled by computer 700 and may providefeedback to computer 700 in order that computer 700 can make adjustmentsduring the fabrication of part 102. Examples of this are described belowin conjunction with FIGS. 7 through 9.

In a particular embodiment of invention, inspection device 108 or othersuitable scanning devices may be utilized to reverse engineer a part.This reverse engineering may be utilized to create a solid CAD model ofthe reverse engineered part so that a new part having the samegeometrical configuration may be produced by system 100.

As described in more detail below, feedback to computer 700 is animportant feature of the present invention. Suitable laser scanningdevices and other suitable monitoring devices are utilized throughoutsystem 100 in order that part 102 may be fabricated accurately. Forexample, the parameters of a deposition process may be changed on asubstantially real-time basis so that the dimensional accuracy,mechanical properties, or other characteristics of part 102 may beoptimized. For example, during a laser based deposition process, theamount of powder delivered to the molten pool that is created during theprocess may be controlled. An embodiment of this is described below inconjunction with FIGS. 2 though 6. Another example is the controlling ofthe molten pool in a laser based additive manufacturing process. Anembodiment of this is described below in conjunction with FIGS. 6through 8. A still further example is the control of the heat affectedzone within part 102 during a welding based deposition process. Anembodiment of this is described below in conjunction with FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of system 100 in which system 100 is anLBAM system that includes a powder delivery system 10 according to oneembodiment of the invention. The illustrated LBAM system is utilized inthe fabrication of part 102. In a particular embodiment, part 102 is inthe form of a “functionally gradient part” (“FGP”) having variedchemical and/or mechanical properties at differing portions of part 102.

Powder delivery system 10, in the illustrated embodiment, includes oneor more hoppers 21 having corresponding hopper outputs to contain andcontinuously feed the powder to a downstream portion of powder deliverysystem 10. Any suitable number of hoppers 21 may be used in powderdelivery system 10 and each may include the same or a different powderthan each of the other hoppers 21. In the illustrated embodiment, twohoppers 21-1, 21-2, each include a different powder. Any suitable powdermay be utilized, such as a metal powder, a ceramic powder, and a carbidepowder. Hoppers 21 may be of any suitable type, such as a gravity fedhopper, so long as the powder may be satisfactorily contained andcontinuously fed to the downstream portion of powder delivery system 10.In one embodiment, the downstream portion includes a metering device 31associated with one or more of the hoppers 21, as described in furtherdetail below in conjunction with FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a portion of powder delivery system 10illustrating metering device 31 according to one embodiment of theinvention. Although a specific embodiment of metering device 31 isillustrated FIG. 3, metering device 31 may be of any suitable type, solong as metering device 31 can function to receive powder continuouslyfed or dosed from hopper 21 and deliver the powder to a downstreamportion of powder delivery system 10. In the illustrated embodiment,powder is continuously fed or dosed from hopper 21 to a substantiallyflat surface 33 of metering device 31. This may be achieved by disposingmetering device 31 proximate an output 23 of hopper 21 by a prescribedgap. Metering device 31 is rotated about an axis of rotation 35 at apredetermined rate of rotation. By this arrangement, a quantity ofpowder delivered from output 23 of hopper 21 at a continuous feedingrate may be “sheared off” from a quantity of the powder remaining inhopper 21 by flat surface 33.

Because the powder is deposited on flat surface 33, the feeding ordosing of the powder to metering device 31 is continuous for a givenrate of rotation of metering device 31. This is in contrast to ametering device that is non-continuously fed or dosed with the powder,which typically includes discrete areas having varying amounts of powderdisposed thereon for a given flow rate. The geometry of output 23 ofhopper 21, the rate of rotation of metering device 31, the prescribedgap between output 23 and flat surface 33, and the properties of thepowder, among other factors, determine a mass and/or a volumetricfeeding rate of the powder delivered to metering device 31. Although anysuitable mass and/or a volumetric feeding rate may be utilized, it hasbeen determined through experimentation that metering device 31 may becontinuously fed at a relatively small feeding rate (e.g., from aminimum of about 1.0 grams/minute to a maximum of about 15.0grams/minute) and a relatively continuous feeding rate (e.g., with avariance about 1.0 grams/minute or less). In addition, the continuousfeeding rate may be changed over a relatively short time interval (e.g.,less than about 3 seconds, and more preferably, to less than about 1second). Such precise control over the feeding rate of each of aplurality of individual powders may be used to fabricate a functionallygradient part (“FGP”), such as part 102.

FIG. 4 is a graphical representation 39 of powder feeding rates as afunction of rates of rotation of metering device 31. As shown in FIG. 4,it has been determined through experimentation that for a given set offactors, the feeding or dosing rate of powder to metering device 31varies almost linearly with the rate of rotation of metering device 31.Further, for a given set of factors, coarse adjustments of the feedingor dosing rate to metering device 31 may be achieved by varying the sizeof the prescribed gap between output 23 of hopper 21 and the meteringdevice 31, either manually or automatically (e.g., by computer control),and/or that fine adjustments of the feeding or dosing rate may beachieved by varying the rate of rotation of metering device 31.

Powder delivery system 10 may include one or more mass and/or volumeflow determining devices to determine the feeding rate of powderdelivered from hopper 21. In one embodiment of the invention, an opticalelectronic system 200 may be used to determine a volumetric feeding rateof the powder, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In addition, a scale (notshown) may be used to directly measure a mass feeding rate.

Referring to FIG. 5, optical electronic system 200 includes a collimatedand/or expanded laser beam 201 and a light detecting or optical sensor203. The laser beam 201 is disposed on a first side of the powderdelivered from a powder delivery nozzle 51 (FIGS. 2 and 6), and opticalsensor 203 is disposed on a second side thereof. As a density of thepowder flowing from powder delivery system 10 to the component part 102changes, an amount of laser light scattered by the powder increases ordecreases accordingly. As such, an amount of laser light received byoptical sensor 203 also decreases or increases. Accordingly, opticalsensor 203 can output a voltage in proportion to the amount of incidentlight received by optical sensor 203. Through any suitable calibrationprocess, the volumetric feeding rate of the powder may be determinedfrom the voltage output of optical sensor 203.

The optical electronic system 200 may further include an electronicdevice (not shown) for determining the mass feeding rate of the powderbased on both (i) the volumetric feeding rate of the powder and (ii)known or predetermined properties of the powder. For example, anysuitable computer (not shown) may be controlled as a proportional,integral, derivative (“PID”) controller and/or as a fuzzy logiccontroller to determine the mass feeding rate. Parameters of powderdelivery system 10 may be adjusted (e.g., the rate of rotation ofmetering device 31, the prescribed gap between flat surface 33 andoutput 23 of hopper 21, etc.) based on a difference between the measuredfeeding rate and the desired feeding rate to achieve the desired feedingrate.

Optical electronic system 200 may be housed within a closed structure tominimize an influence of external factors acting on the powder at thepoint of volumetric flow determination. For example, the opticalelectronic system 200 may include a cell 210 defining a volume throughwhich the powder flows. The cell 210 may include a first window 221 forreceiving the laser light into the interior of the volume and a secondwindow 231 for transmitting the light to optical sensor 203. One or bothof the windows 221, 231, may be coated with a transparent conductivelayer that prevents a static charge buildup on the glass windows,thereby preventing the powder from adhering thereto. In one embodiment,the coating is Indium Tin Oxide. The cell may also include a metal block241 to ground one or both of the windows 221, 231 thereto. One or moreseals (not shown) may be disposed around at least part or all of one orboth of windows 221, 231 to further isolate the volume of cell 210 fromexternal factors. One or more, and preferably two, air ionizers (notshown) may be placed in contact with and/or apart from cell 210 todirect a combination of positively and negatively charged ions at cell210, thereby removing the static charge from the windows 221, 231.

As discussed above, the feeding rate determining device may also includea scale that can directly measure the mass feeding rate of the powder.The scale may be insensitive to noise and/or to vibration. In oneembodiment, a strain gauge may be used to measure a strain and,consequently, the change in mass of the powder in the hopper 21.

Referring back to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, metering device 31 is adisk, and more preferably, a flat disk having an approximately circularcross section. Further, the disk may be rotated by any suitable device,such as a direct current (“DC”) stepper motor. The use of a DC steppermotor permits a precise adjustment of the rate of rotation of meteringdevice 31. A powder removal device 41 may remove the powder from flatsurface 33. The present invention may include any suitable powderremoval device 41, so long as powder removal device 41 can remove thepowder from metering device 31 and deliver the powder to a furtherdownstream portion of powder delivery system 10. In a preferredembodiment, each of metering devices 31, and consequently, each of thehoppers 21, may include a separate powder removal device 41.

In one embodiment of powder removal device 41, a vacuum device 42 isdisposed in a chamber 43 that includes a carrier gas input orifice 45. Acarrier gas may be introduced into chamber 43 through input orifice 45and may be removed from chamber 43 through any suitable opening invacuum device 42. By this arrangement, the inflow and outflow of thecarrier gas can create a vacuum capable of removing the powder from flatsurface 33 of metering device 31. The carrier gas may be any suitablegas so long as the performance of powder delivery system 10 is notunsatisfactorily degraded. In one embodiment, carrier gas is an inertgas, such as argon.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, powder removal device 41includes a scraper or scraping device (not shown) in lieu of vacuumdevice 42 to remove powder from metering device 31. The scraper devicemay include a blade that contacts flat surface 33 of metering device 31to scrape or push the powder therefrom. However, such a powder removaldevice may suffer from a disadvantage in that the scraper and/ormetering device 31 may become worn from extended use and contacttherebetween. Wear of one or both of these components may result in theformation of an undesirable gap between the powder removal device andmetering device 31, which may prevent the powder delivered to meteringdevice 31 from being satisfactorily removed therefrom and degrade theaccuracy of powder delivery system 10. In another alternate embodimentof the invention, powder removal device 41 includes a suitableair-blower or air-blowing device (not shown) to move a volume of air topush the powder from metering device 31.

Powder removal device 41 may deliver a plurality of differing powdersfrom a plurality of hoppers 21 to a mixing unit or manifold (not shown)and subsequently to a powder nozzle 51 (FIGS. 2 and 6), or alternativelymay deliver a single powder from a single hopper 21 to powder nozzle 51.Thus, during the manufacture of a FGP, for example, the mixing manifoldmay ensure that the differing powders are thoroughly mixed before thepowders are delivered to the further downstream portion of powderdelivery system 10.

Referring to FIG. 6, powder nozzle 51 may receive powder delivered bypowder removal device 41 and deliver the powder to part 102 beingfabricated by system 100. Powder nozzle 51 surrounds a laser beam 60that is used to form a molten pool on part 102. As discussed above, acarrier gas may be used to deliver the powder around laser beam 60 andthrough powder nozzle 51 to part 102. In a preferred embodiment, anargon gas that is used to remove the powder from metering device 31 mayalso be used to deliver the powder to component part 102 through powdernozzle 51.

Laser beam 60 may be generated from any suitable laser system. A laserhead 61 including a partially reflective mirror 63 and a focusing lens65 directs laser light from laser beam 60 onto part 102, such that amolten pool is formed on part 102. The delivered powder then contactsthe molten pool and melts, thereby adding material to part 102. In oneembodiment, laser beam 60 is generated by a one thousand watt (1000 W)Nd:YAG laser; however, laser beam 60 may be of any suitable type.

Also illustrated in FIG. 6 is an infrared sensing device 600 that isoperable to sense a molten pool during material deposition by a laserbased deposition system. Infrared sensing device 600 senses infraredradiation during the LBAM process after passing through suitable filters602 sandwiching an iris 604. Infrared sensing device 600 is coupled to aframe grabber 606, which in turn is coupled to computer 700. Details ofcomputer 700 are described below in conjunction with FIG. 7.

Infrared sensing device 600 may be any suitable infrared sensing device,such as a high-frame rate digital charge coupled device (“CCD”) camera.Obtained infrared images during the LBAM process may be calibrated usingan ultra-high shutter speed camera assisted with a pulsing nitrogenlaser. The shape of the molten pool during the LBAM process may becaptured in substantially real-time and fed to computer 700 so thatcomputer 700 may determine whether or not adjustments should be made ofthe parameters of the LBAM process during the deposition. For example,with respect to the LBAM process described in FIGS. 2 through 6, theprescribed gap between output 23 of hopper 21 and top surface 33 ofmetering device 31 may be adjusted, the rotational speed of meteringdevice 31 may be adjusted, or other suitable adjustments may be carriedout. Various adjustments may also be made to the laser based additivemanufacturing system to control the molten pool during the deposition ofthe material. This is described in greater detail below in conjunctionwith FIGS. 7 and 8. A computer 700, which stores solid CAD model 103,may also control the heat affected zone within part 102 based on thegeometrical features of solid CAD model 103. The details of oneembodiment of this is described below in conjunction with FIGS. 7 and 9.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of computer 700 for use in system 100according to one embodiment of the invention. In the illustratedembodiment, computer 700 includes an input device 702, an output device704, a processor 706, a memory 708 storing molten pool control tool 710and heat management tool 712, and a storage location 714.

Input device 702 is coupled to computer 700 for allowing the user ofsystem 100 to fabricate part 102. For example, although not illustratedin FIG. 7, a suitable CAD application, as described above, may beutilized by the user to create solid CAD model 103 for part 102. Inaddition, a suitable CAM application may be utilized to control thecomponents of system 100 during the manufacturing of part 102. In oneembodiment, input device 702 is a keyboard, however input device 702 maytake other forms, such as a mouse, a stylus, a scanner, or anycombination thereof. Output device 704 is any suitable visual displayunit, such as an LCD or CRT display, that allows a user to see solid CADmodel 103 as it is being created or part 102 as it is being fabricated.Output device 704 may also be coupled to a printer for the purpose ofprinting out any desired information, such as detailed drawings, orother suitable information.

Processor 706 comprises any suitable type of processing unit thatexecutes logic. One of the functions of processor 706 is to retrievemolten pool control tool 710 or heat management tool 712 from memory 708and execute those tools to control the fabrication of part 102. Thesefunctions of tools 710 and 712 are discussed more fully below inconjunction with FIGS. 8 and 9. Processor 706 may also control theretrieving and/or storing of information and other suitable data, suchas any computer aided design or computer aided manufacturing data.

Molten pool control tool 710 is a computer program written in anysuitable computer language. According to the teachings of one embodimentof the present invention, molten pool control tool 710 is operable toreceive feedback from sensors and/or monitoring devices associated withsystem 100 and, based on that feedback, adjust any necessary parametersof the deposition process currently being employed for the deposition ofa two-dimensional layer of part 102. Some of the functions of moltenpool control tool 710 are described below in conjunction with FIG. 8.

Heat management tool 712 is a computer program written in any suitablecomputer language. According to the teachings of another embodiment ofthe present invention, heat management tool 712 is operable to adjustthe parameters of a deposition process currently being employed fordepositing a two-dimensional layer for part 102 based on the geometry ofpart 102 as denoted by solid CAD model 103. Some of the functions ofheat management tool 712 are described below in conjunction with FIG. 9.

Memory 708 and storage location 714 may comprise files, stacks,databases, or other suitable organizations of volatile or non-volatilememory. Memory 708 and storage location 714 may be random access memory,read only memory, CD-ROM, removable memory devices, or any othersuitable devices that allow storage and/or retrieval of data. Memory 708and storage location 714 are interchangeable and may perform the samefunctions.

FIG. 8A is a flowchart illustrating an example method of controlling thesize of the molten pool in laser-based additive manufacturing accordingto an embodiment of the invention. The example method illustrated inFIG. 8A illustrates some of the functionality of molten pool controltool 710 (FIG. 7) and should be read with reference to FIG. 6.

The example method begins at step 800 where an imaging device, such ascamera 600, is coaxially aligned with a laser nozzle, such as nozzle 51.Imaging device is utilized to image a molten pool on a substrate, asdenoted by step 802. To protect camera 600 from laser damage and/oroverexposure, the radiation from the molten pool is filtered, at step804, before it reaches imaging device 600. This filtering may befacilitated by laser filter 602 a and infrared filter 602 b. Laserfilter 602 a, in one embodiment, is a type of optical filter and isutilized to protect the camera from laser damage. Infrared filter 602 bmay be utilized to eliminate the image noise created by the metal powderbeing delivered through nozzle 51. In one embodiment, the radiationwavelength received by camera 600 is between 0.7 and 1.06 micrometers.

The intensity of the radiation from the molten pool may also beadjusted, as denoted by step 806, before it reaches the imaging device.This may be facilitated by iris 604, which is utilized to adjust theintensity to prevent overexposure received by camera 600. As describedabove, imaging device may be any suitable imaging device, such as camera600, and in some embodiments may be a high frame rate charge coupleddevice (“CCD”) camera that is operable to image the molten pool at arate of up to approximately eight hundred frames per second. Inaddition, imaging may be at a resolution of approximately 128×128 orother suitable resolutions.

At least one characteristic of the molten pool from the image iscompared with a respective characteristic of a target molten pool, atstep 808. Based on this comparison, the laser power of laser 60 may beadjusted in substantially real-time, as denoted by step 810. Thisadjustment in laser power may achieve a constant and controllable sizeof the molten pool in order to control the geometrical accuracy andmaterial microstructure of the part being produced, such as part 102.The results of performing one embodiment of the example method asdescribed above is shown below in conjunction with FIG. 8B.

Referring to FIG. 8B, an example graph 814 is illustrated along withexample images 816 showing successful control of the molten pool inlaser-based additive manufacturing according to an embodiment of theinvention. As illustrated in graph 814, the laser power to the laser iswell correlated with the width of the molten pool, which in theillustrated embodiment is measured in pixels. This results in arelatively consistent and well controlled molten pool, as illustrated inthe example images 816.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of controlling theoperational weld parameters in welding based deposition processesaccording to one embodiment of the invention. The example methodoutlined in FIG. 9 describes some of the functionality of heatmanagement tool 712. The example method begins at step 900 where a solidCAD model, such as solid CAD model 103, representing a three-dimensionalpart, such as part 102, is generated on a computer, such as computer700. Solid CAD model 103 is electronically sliced into a plurality ofelectronic two-dimensional layers, as denoted by step 902. Based onsolid CAD model 103, a path of material deposition is identified at step904.

A volume of solid CAD model 103 is then digitized to represent solid CADmodel 103 as a three-dimensional matrix of volumetric points, as denotedby step 906. Each volumetric point is assigned either a zero if materialexists at that volumetric point or a one if material does not exist atthat volumetric point, as denoted by step 908. In this manner, an actualvolume of material around each deposition point may be identified, atstep 910, based on the three-dimensional matrix. A theoretical volume ofmaterial is also identified for each deposition point based on atheoretical hemisphere defined by a predetermined heat effected zone, asdenoted by step 912. This theoretical hemisphere is based on an initialset of parameters for the particular welding based deposition processbeing employed.

A geometrical factor for each deposition point may then be determined atstep 914. This geometrical factor, sometimes referred to as a “G”factor, is defined by a ratio of the actual volume of material aroundeach deposition point identified at step 910 to the theoretical volumeof material around each deposition point as identified in step 912.Accordingly, one or more parameters of the welding based depositionprocess being employed may be automatically adjusted during materialdeposition for a respective deposition point, as denoted by step 916.This automatic adjustment of the welding parameters is based on thegeometrical factor for the respective deposition point. Examples ofwelding parameters that may be automatically adjusted include current,laser power, and plasma power.

Thus, homogeneous mechanical properties across the volume of thethree-dimensional part, such as part 102, may be accomplished. This isdue to the uniform cooling achieved because of the automatic adjustmentof the welding parameters based on the above example method.

Although embodiments of the invention and their advantages are describedin detail, a person skilled in the art could make various alterations,additions, and omissions without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A powder delivery system for a laser-based additive manufacturingprocess, comprising: a hopper adapted to contain a powder andcontinuously feed the powder through an output of the hopper; a meteringdevice adjacent the output of the hopper, the metering device comprisinga rotatable disk having a top surface that is substantially flat, thetop surface adapted to receive the powder continuously fed through theoutput of the hopper, the top surface being disposed below the output ofthe hopper by a prescribed gap; a powder removal device adjacent themetering device, the powder removal device operable to remove the powderfrom the metering device and deliver the powder to a nozzle of thelaser-based additive manufacturing process; and a control deviceoperable to vary an amount of the powder continuously fed to themetering device, the control device further operable to vary theprescribed gap between the top surface and the output of the hopper. 2.The powder delivery system of claim 1, wherein the powder removal deviceis operable to remove the powder from the top surface.
 3. The powderdelivery system of claim 2, wherein the powder removal device comprisesa vacuum powder removal device operable to remove the powder from thetop surface via a vacuum.
 4. The powder delivery system of claim 3,wherein the vacuum powder removal device comprises: a chamber includinga gas input orifice; and a vacuum device disposed in the chamber, thevacuum device operable to remove the powder from the top surface by aflowing of a gas into the chamber through the gas input orifice and outof the chamber through the vacuum device.
 5. The powder delivery systemof claim 1, wherein the control device is further operable to vary aspeed of rotation of the rotatable disk.
 6. A method of delivering apowder in a laser-based additive manufacturing process, comprising:containing a powder in a hopper having an output; continuously feedingthe powder from the output to a top surface of a rotatable disk; andremoving the powder from the top surface with a vacuum powder removaldevice.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising varying an amountof the powder continuously fed to the top surface.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein varying the amount of the powder comprises varying agap between the top surface and the output of the hopper.
 9. The methodof claim 7, wherein varying the amount of the powder comprises varying aspeed of rotation of the rotatable disk.
 10. The method of claim 7,wherein varying the amount of the powder comprises varying a gap betweenthe top surface and the output of the hopper and varying a speed ofrotation of the rotatable disk.
 11. A powder delivery system for alaser-based additive manufacturing process, comprising: a hopper adaptedto contain a powder and continuously feed the powder through an outputof the hopper; a rotatable disk having a top surface that issubstantially flat, the top surface adapted to receive the powdercontinuously fed through the output of the hopper, the top surface beingdisposed below the output of the hopper by a prescribed gap; and avacuum powder removal device operable to remove the powder from the topsurface via a vacuum.
 12. The powder delivery system of claim 11,wherein the vacuum powder removal device comprises: a chamber includinga gas input orifice; and a vacuum device disposed in the chamber, thevacuum device operable to remove the powder from the top surface by aflowing of a gas into the chamber through the gas input orifice and outof the chamber through the vacuum device.
 13. The powder delivery systemof claim 11, further comprising a control device operable to vary anamount of the powder continuously fed to the metering device.
 14. Thepowder delivery system of claim 11, wherein the control device isfurther operable to vary the prescribed gap between the top surface andthe output of the hopper.
 15. The powder delivery system of claim 11,wherein the control device is further operable to vary a speed ofrotation of the rotatable disk.
 16. The powder delivery system of claim11, wherein the control device is operable to vary a speed of rotationof the metering device and the prescribed gap between the meteringdevice and the hopper.